Register now  |  Forgotten password?

Lorry drivers deliver cycling safety message

ShareThis

The Freight Trade Association has recently been at pains (clumsily) to make their members aware of their responsibilities when it comes to being alert of cyclists when on the road.

Now another industry trade group is making positive moves to educate its members about cyclists on the road and deserves credit for its campaign to educate lorry drivers on how to drive their vehicles when cyclists are around.

The Mineral Products Association, which is the trade association for UK’s aggregates, cement and concrete industries, has started a campaign called Cycle Safe, which educates members of the association (who deliver quarry products and building materials across the UK) about issues such as undertaking and giving cyclists road space.

Cycle Safe

Part of the Cycle Safe campaign is to showcase events where cyclists are encouraged to ‘exchange places’ with LGV drivers to enable them to see the road from the perspective of the driver and understand how difficult it is for a lorry driver to spot cyclists when out on the road. Cyclists can get inside a stationery LGV vehicle to see what visibility is like on the inside and learn about potential hazards from MPA lorry drivers.

Launch event

The launch event for the Cycle Safe takes place in Oxford on March 1 with the members of the MPA on hand. A lorry will be parked at Radcliffe Square, in the centre of Oxford, and the MPA is encouraging cyclists to stop and talk.

A spokeswoman for the MPC told the Oxford Mail that it hoped the event would get cyclists and drivers talking and educating each other on being aware of cyclists on the road.

Key objectives of the MPA campaign include:

Preventing collisions between cyclists and LGVs and thereby reducing injuries and fatalities on UK roads.

Ensuring cyclists are aware of the potential danger of cycling on the nearside of large vehicles turning left and the risks associated with pulling up next to LGVs at junctions.

Promoting driver ‘cycle awareness’ training, ensuring driver training courses for the industry cover cycle awareness.

Ensuring drivers always watch out for cyclists on the roads.

Providing MPA members with relevant materials and opportunities to support the Cycle Safe campaign.

Working with relevant bodies (cycling, industrial and regulatory) to support safe cycling and driving.

from Going Going Bike - Auctions, Bike News, Cycle Stuff

See Also:

Plans to create London network of cycle re-use projects

Pensioners pass cycling skills to the next generation

Grab the GGB Weekly Newsletter

and we will send you our second hand bike buying guide.